I want to replace RG&E with a local, community controlled public utility!

I want to replace RG&E with a local, community controlled public utility!

Did you know that we can vote out the foreign-owned corporation that owns and controls RG&E? RG&E is owned by a foreign multinational corporation called Iberdrola that extracts over $107 million in profits from our region every year. Rochester for Energy Democracy (RED) is Metro Justice’s campaign to replace foreign-owned RG&E in Rochester or Monroe County into a not for profit, locally controlled public utility.

RG&E's track record speaks volumes—surprise billing, exorbitant rates, terrible customer service, and rising rates have plagued our community for far too long. In addition to being unresponsive to the needs of city residents, RG&E has all but ignored the impending climate crisis, continued to invest in fossil fuels, and lobbied against green energy policies. It's time for change.

  

 

2,521 signatures

By signing this petition, I support the call to replace RG&E with a locally owned and community controlled public utility that meets the needs of our communities instead of serving the greed of distant investors and CEOs. I want a public utility based on the principles of energy democracy:

  • Affordable Rates,
  • Local investment of ratepayer dollars to prioritize customer service and a reliable grid, 
  • A fast and equitable transition to zero greenhouse gas emissions, 
  • More good paying union jobs and a just transition for fossil fuel energy workers, 
  • Public ownership of the utility, where it is run by value-aligned general management and its current employees, governed by an elected Board of Directors, and has a real say for ratepayers. 

In particular, I call on elected leaders to take the first step and study whether and how a public utility could meet these goals.

Will you sign?

  • Jude Tinto
    signed 2025-03-08 11:33:58 -0500
  • Jared Torres
    signed 2025-03-08 11:32:32 -0500
    Thank you for stepping up and acknowledging this absurdity.
  • Megan Blom
    signed 2025-03-08 11:27:35 -0500
    I sent in my meter read and got hit with a $500 bill for a tiny one bedroom apartment, I work 50 hr/week, how am I using all that power when I’m not even home half the time!?!?
  • Cassandra Brooks
    signed 2025-03-08 11:27:16 -0500
  • Riley Collins
    signed 2025-03-08 11:22:19 -0500
  • Emily Sanjanwala
    signed 2025-03-08 11:19:23 -0500
  • Josh Nielens
    signed 2025-03-08 11:19:03 -0500
  • Megan Dailor
    signed 2025-03-08 10:59:32 -0500
  • Erin Brache
    signed 2025-03-08 10:57:50 -0500
  • Rosemaria Mayerhofer
    signed 2025-03-08 09:40:20 -0500
  • Christopher Painting
    signed 2025-03-08 05:46:11 -0500
  • Hayley Cleveland
    signed 2025-03-08 01:41:05 -0500
    No more financial exploitation of honest hard working people.
  • Thomas Gordner
    signed 2025-03-07 20:34:15 -0500
  • Warda Arif
    signed 2025-03-07 19:18:10 -0500
    I hate Rg&E!
  • Sarah Keegan
    signed 2025-03-07 19:13:16 -0500
  • Christopher Miller
    signed 2025-03-07 18:41:05 -0500
  • George Akgul
    signed 2025-03-07 18:33:55 -0500
  • Gary Browne
    signed 2025-03-07 17:16:08 -0500
  • Shannon Amsler
    signed 2025-03-07 17:12:32 -0500
  • Rachel Gressel
    signed 2025-03-07 16:23:04 -0500
  • David Dziak
    signed 2025-03-07 15:44:39 -0500
  • Josh Matthews
    signed 2025-03-07 15:08:14 -0500
  • Graham Wolfe
    signed 2025-03-07 14:42:01 -0500
  • Nick Giordano
    signed 2025-03-07 14:23:35 -0500
  • Llerena Searle
    signed 2025-03-07 09:14:14 -0500
  • Michelle Amadi
    signed 2025-03-06 23:09:03 -0500
  • lieve Bain
    signed 2025-03-06 18:33:33 -0500
    RG$E is in total disarray and lost of people are suffering because of it.
  • Abi Deniz
    signed 2025-03-06 17:33:39 -0500
  • Graham Home
    signed 2025-03-03 10:02:08 -0500
  • Noah Long
    signed 2025-03-03 00:32:13 -0500

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